Across world spiritual traditions, attachment refers to the emotional binds that tie individuals to desires, outcomes, or possessions. Many traditions converge on the idea that attachment hinders spiritual growth and liberation. However, they diverge in their prescriptions for releasing attachment, offering unique perspectives on the path to detachment.
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Having thus acquired the rare gift of Devotion the sage prepared a funeral pile and discarding all attachment from his heart ascended it.
उन्ते श्री राम के श्रि मुख के में स्त स्य स्य विरध को लेकर स्त स्य स्य विरध को वब स्त स्य स्य विरध को वब विरध को वब स्त स्य स्य विरधको
In a person who dwells on the objects of sense, attachment to them arises; from attachment springs desire, and from desire comes anger.
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते | सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ||२-६२||
Mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation for human beings. Attached to objects, it makes for bondage; free of objects, it is held to make for liberation.
मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः । बन्धाय विषयासक्तं मुक्त्यै निर्विषयं स्मृतम्
But the resolve by which one holds fast to dharma, pleasure, and wealth, Arjuna, with attachment and craving for their fruits — that resolve, Partha, is rajasic.
यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन | प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी धृतिः सा पार्थ राजसी ||१८-३४||
Attraction and aversion are seated in each sense with regard to its object. One should not come under the sway of these two, for they are one's enemies.
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ | तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ ||३-३४||
Dwelling in ignorance in many ways, the childish think, 'We have accomplished our aim.' Because those attached to works do not understand, through attachment they suffer and fall when their worlds are exhausted.
अविद्यायां बहुधा वर्तमाना वयं कृतार्था इत्यभिमन्यन्ति बालाः । यत्कर्मिणो न प्रवेदयन्ति रागा- त्तेनातुराः क्षीणलोकाश्च्यवन्ते ॥ ९॥
Know rajas to be of the nature of passion, arising from craving and attachment; it binds the embodied one through attachment to action, son of Kunti.
रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम् | तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम् ||१४-७||
Of these, sattva, being pure, is illuminating and free from ill; it binds by attachment to happiness and by attachment to knowledge, sinless one.
तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम् | सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ ||१४-६||
For Purusha, seated in Prakriti, experiences the gunas born of Prakriti; attachment to the gunas is the cause of his births in good and evil wombs.
पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् | कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ||१३-२२||
Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures stand here in battle, giving up their lives and their wealth:
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च | त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ||१-३३||
There Arjuna saw, standing in both armies, fathers and grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends,
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् | आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ||१-२६||
He is completely emancipated who does not covet others' belongings, never disregards anyone, transcends all dualities, and has a soul free from attachment.
Renunciation of all attachments is the highest means to achieve liberation. It is through knowledge that we can achieve renunciation and become free.
Without giving up worldly attachments, one can never achieve true happiness. Without renunciation, one can never attain their highest good or find peace.
Perform actions, O Dhananjaya, while being in union with the Divine, having renounced attachments, and being balanced in success and failure. Equilibrium is Yoga.
Work becomes elevated when it's done with the right mindset, free from attachment and egoism.
The Karma Yogi, having renounced the fruits of action, attains eternal peace or liberation through wisdom, whereas one who is driven by desire and attached to the fruits of action becomes bound. (Gita: Chapter V-12)
The main teaching of the Gita is to not be attached to actions. Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, 'Work constantly, but do not expect rewards.'
You cannot realize God if you have even the slightest bit of egoism, attachment to name and form, or worldly desires in your mind.
Perform all actions, dwelling in union with the Divine, renouncing attachments, and balanced evenly in success and failure.